BIOMASS STORAGE · FUEL BLENDING · BOILER FEEDING
Biomass Cranes for Efficient Fuel Handling
Move wood chips, bark and other loose biomass from reception to storage and feed hoppers with an engineered grab crane from Henan Mine Crane.
We supply the crane, selected fuel grab and controls as a coordinated package. Your proposal includes the working layout, handling-capacity calculation and plant interfaces, with commissioning and spare-parts options.
Keep Fuel Moving from the Receiving Pit to the Boiler
A biomass crane transfers fuel in batches: it clears incoming deliveries, distributes material through the store, blends selected stocks and replenishes the feed hopper. The downstream feeder meters fuel to the boiler. We engineer the crane around both systems so reception work does not consume the capacity needed for feeding.
One coordinated equipment package
Bridge, trolley, hoisting system, fuel grab and controls are selected together. This keeps grab self-weight, usable payload, motion performance and electrical interfaces within one technical offer.
Useful storage coverage
We map pickup zones, hopper openings, approach distances and maintenance positions onto the fuel-store drawing. An overhead arrangement can reduce dependence on loader aisles inside the covered working area.
A defined route to operation
The offer can include installation guidance, commissioning, operating instruction and recommended spares. Equipment, site services and plant responsibilities are itemized for procurement.
Biomass Crane Configuration and Technical Details
| Item | Configuration supplied for the project |
|---|---|
| Crane arrangement | Overhead grab crane for a fuel hall or bunker; gantry arrangements evaluated for suitable outdoor storage. |
| Base grab-crane family | QZ catalogue family: 5–20 t. The biomass-duty configuration, grab and automation are selected for the installation. |
| Lifting capacity and payload | The technical schedule separates rated lifting load, grab self-weight and net fuel payload. |
| Grab volume and closure | Selected from fuel density range, particle size, moisture, required throughput and hopper dimensions. |
| Span, travel and lifting height | Dimensioned from runway centres, storage depth, discharge elevation and the usable working envelope. |
| Motion speeds and duty | Hoisting and travel speeds, acceleration and duty classification matched to the calculated load spectrum and cycles. |
| Operating modes | Manual, assisted cycles or engineered automatic operation, with the included functions stated in the offer. |
| Plant interfaces | Hopper demand, level signals, downstream readiness, restricted zones and agreed plant-network communications. |
| Delivery documentation | Arrangement drawings, technical schedule, electrical documentation, manuals and contracted inspection records. |
The QZ catalogue capacity identifies the base product family. It does not establish fuel throughput or suitability for a particular continuous-duty cycle. Those values are set out for the offered crane.
Choose the Grab for the Fuel You Actually Handle
| Fuel form | Handling approach | What our selection addresses |
|---|---|---|
| Wood chips | A clamshell or other bulk-material grab matched to the chip characteristics. | Bucket volume, penetration, retained load and discharge into the receiving hopper. |
| Bark and fibrous residues | A grab evaluated for long pieces, interlocking material and incomplete closure. | Tine or shell geometry, closing action and the risk of material hanging across the opening. |
| Wood pellets and similar granular fuels | A bulk grab selected for retention and controlled discharge. | Fines leakage, drop height, pellet damage and dust at transfer points. |
| Loose agricultural residues | Material-specific grab selection using the actual size and compaction range. | Low bulk density, uneven filling and the time needed to obtain a useful payload. |
| Straw or biomass bales | A separately engineered bale clamp or bale-handling attachment. | Bale dimensions, mass, wrapping, gripping method and storage pattern. |
A single grab will not suit every fuel stream. For plants switching between fuels, we evaluate the density range, attachment changeover and controls needed for each operating mode.
Select for the Whole Fuel-Handling Shift
Our engineering review connects boiler demand with delivery peaks and storage movements. Low-density fuel can fill a large grab without producing much mass; a denser fuel can reach the permitted suspended load before the grab is full.
| Operating condition | How we develop the arrangement |
|---|---|
| Deliveries concentrated into a short daily window | Calculate receiving-pit clearance alongside ongoing hopper replenishment. |
| Several fuel grades or storage zones | Map stock locations and blending transfers, with fuel segregation and task priorities included where required. |
| A narrow hopper or restricted headroom | Match grab opening, approach height, travel path and discharge control to the available space. |
| Automatic night-shift feeding | Develop task scheduling, hopper signals, sensing, alarms and a controlled recovery mode. |
| Operation during crane maintenance | Assess buffer storage, recovery time, spare-grab arrangements and any alternative handling route. |
Biomass Crane Compared with Other Fuel-Handling Arrangements
| Arrangement | Where it fits | Effect on the plant layout |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent grab overhead crane | A covered store needing multiple pickup zones, blending and automatic hopper replenishment. | Travels above the store; runway structure, headroom and service access form part of the layout. |
| Moving floor and conveyor system | A defined reclaim and transfer route with comparatively fixed material flow. | Useful where continuous reclaim is the main task; blending and access depend on the storage design. |
| Wheel loader with a receiving hopper | Sites needing mobile handling across accessible floor areas. | Requires traffic routes, turning space and an operating plan for vehicles and people. |
| Grab-and-hook gantry crane | Suitable outdoor auxiliary handling or mixed bulk and equipment duties. | Uses ground-supported runways and must suit the fuel, weather and operating frequency. |
| Dedicated bale-handling crane | Straw or other packaged biomass delivered as bales. | Uses a bale-specific attachment and storage strategy instead of a loose-fuel bucket. |
We develop the crane and its transfer interfaces around the chosen fuel-handling system. A crane feeding a buffer hopper can work alongside conveyors and metering equipment.
Size by Tonnes per Hour, Then Check the Suspended Load
Net fuel payload depends on the grab’s useful volume, the fuel bulk density and how well it fills. Total handling demand includes receiving, blending and rehandling as well as boiler feed.
Illustrative wood-chip calculation
Assume a 6 m³ grab, fuel density of 0.25 t/m³ and an effective filling factor of 0.80. These are calculation inputs for this example, not specifications of an offered crane.
| Calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| Fuel payload: 6 × 0.25 × 0.80 | 1.20 t per cycle. |
| A complete 120-second cycle at 75% productive utilisation | 1.20 × (3,600 ÷ 120) × 0.75 = 27 t/h of handling capacity. |
| If the same fuel stream falls to 0.15 t/m³ | Payload becomes 0.72 t; calculated capacity falls to 16.2 t/h with the other assumptions unchanged. |
| If grab self-weight is assumed to be 2.20 t | The first condition produces 3.40 t of suspended mass before additional attachments. The maximum fuel density must also be checked. |
What this means for selection: the lightest fuel may govern the volume and cycle rate, while the densest permitted fuel may govern lifting load. We check both and state the assumed routes, filling factor and productive time in the capacity calculation.
Boiler thermal output alone is insufficient for crane sizing. Fuel consumption also depends on heating value, moisture and plant efficiency; the boiler supplier’s mass-flow requirement provides the feeding basis.
Control the Sequence from Hopper Demand to Fuel Delivery
For an automatic system, a hopper demand signal starts a handling task. The crane checks the permitted route and destination readiness, collects fuel from the assigned zone and discharges inside the programmed opening area.
Receiving and feeding priorities
The offered control sequence can prioritize hopper replenishment while allocating available cycles to truck reception, storage distribution and blending.
Positioning and load control
VFD motion control, position feedback, anti-sway and weighing can be included. Pile-surface sensing and slack-rope protection are specified where required by the selected grab and automation concept.
Clear operating and recovery modes
The control package identifies manual access, assisted cycles, automatic functions, alarms and recovery procedures. Multiple-crane coordination is engineered when included.
The interface schedule defines signals exchanged with the plant PLC or DCS, their purpose and the response to a lost signal. The hopper and downstream feeder remain part of the coordinated process.
Project Experience in Automated Fuel and Bulk Handling
Biomass industry example: Kaunas, Lithuania
Konecranes’ 2013 CXT Biomass brochure documents a New Heat project at a 10 MW boiler house in Kaunas. The fuel hall had three tipping bunkers, three storage areas and a double hopper. The installation used a 4 t hoist and a 2.5 m³ hydraulic clamshell grab, with automated operation, sway control and slack-rope prevention.
This was a Konecranes installation. It illustrates why cycle calculations, building clearance and the fuel-store layout matter alongside hoist capacity; its dimensions and ratings are not Henan Mine Crane product specifications.
Henan Mine Crane: commissioned automatic grab technology
Henan Mine Crane’s December 2025 project report records an automatic grab crane entering service at a waste incineration power generation facility. Its published functions include variable-frequency control, absolute-encoder feedback, anti-sway, fixed-point grabbing and constant-weight cyclic operation.
This is experience in an adjacent fuel-handling application. A biomass proposal receives its own grab, material-flow and operating-duty selection.
Build Service Access into the Fuel Store
A dependable feeding arrangement includes a practical way to inspect the crane, service the grab and recover from a stoppage. We develop the following provisions with the equipment layout:
| Provision | Delivery benefit |
|---|---|
| Grab parking and service position | An accessible landing area for inspection, wear-part replacement and attachment changeover. |
| Machinery and sensor access | Platforms and access arrangements for the selected crane, with cleaning access for sensors where fitted. |
| Wear parts and operational spares | An itemized recommendation for ropes, brakes, grab wear parts and selected electrical components. |
| Maintenance and control records | Supplied manuals, parts identification and contracted control-system backup and access provisions. |
The available hopper buffer, expected repair duration and alternative fuel route determine what the plant can sustain during an outage. Where two cranes are proposed, we assess remaining reach and throughput when one is unavailable.
Protection for Dust, Moisture and Controlled Access
Fuel properties and the building environment guide enclosure protection, coatings, cable systems and cabinet ventilation or cooling. The crane package includes the agreed load protection, motion limits, emergency stops and operating-zone controls.
For a classified combustible-dust area, the proposal identifies the applicable equipment suitability and certification scope. Dust protection and explosion protection are separate requirements. Truck-tipping zones, personnel access and maintenance isolation are addressed in the agreed operating logic.
Crane controls can exchange fire or plant-alarm signals where specified. The fuel store’s fire detection, suppression and process protection remain coordinated plant systems.
Biomass Crane Price, Delivery and Acceptance
Henan Mine Crane quotes the complete selected configuration. Grab volume and self-weight, span, lift, operating duty, automation and installation conditions all affect the offer.
| Quotation item | Scope shown in the offer |
|---|---|
| Crane and fuel grab | Bridge, trolley, lifting machinery, selected grab, drives and crane controls. |
| Automation and plant integration | Included sensors, operating sequences, software functions and plant interfaces; optional upgrades listed separately. |
| Runway and electrification | Supply boundaries for rails, runway steelwork, conductor systems, cables and incoming power. |
| Delivery and site services | Packing, delivery basis, installation guidance, commissioning, training and destination-specific service scope. |
| Testing and handover | Agreed factory inspections, applicable load tests, site functional checks and representative fuel-handling acceptance conditions. |
The commercial proposal states lead time, warranty terms and exclusions. Equipment shipment and site services are separated so the project team can compare quotations on the same basis.
For performance acceptance, the test uses the agreed fuel properties, pickup and discharge route, and workload split. Factory motion testing verifies the equipment functions; the site test establishes performance in the actual fuel store.
Start with a Layout and Your Fuel Requirement
Send a fuel-store drawing, the fuel types and the required boiler-feed rate. If the layout is still being developed, a sketch and daily delivery profile are enough to begin the initial engineering review.
Your proposal: a recommended crane and grab arrangement, capacity calculation basis, operating-mode description, plant interfaces and itemized equipment and service scope.
Biomass Fuel-Handling Crane FAQs
What is a biomass crane?
A biomass crane moves fuel between receiving areas, storage zones and feed hoppers. For loose fuel, it normally uses a grab. Bale handling requires a suitable bale attachment and a separately engineered handling arrangement.
Can one grab handle wood chips, bark and pellets?
Sometimes, but compatibility depends on particle size, density, moisture, closure and discharge behaviour. We evaluate the permitted fuel range and identify any attachment changes or operating limits in the proposal.
Does the crane feed the boiler continuously?
The crane normally replenishes a buffer or feed hopper in batches. Downstream equipment meters fuel to the boiler. Crane capacity, hopper storage and the feeding sequence are selected together.
How is the required lifting capacity calculated?
The rating is selected against the complete permitted suspended load, including the grab, fuel and applicable attachments. Net fuel payload and tonnes-per-hour performance are calculated separately.
Can the crane run automatically at night?
Automatic operation can be engineered with the required sensing, hopper signals, zone controls and recovery modes. The offer defines the functions and the plant supervision and intervention arrangements.
Can you replace a crane in an existing biomass hall?
We can assess the existing runway, clearances, hopper locations and electrical interfaces. The proposed arrangement identifies wheel reactions, working coverage and installation requirements.
What is included in a biomass crane quotation?
The offer identifies the crane and grab, control functions, electrification, documentation, spares and selected site services. Delivery time, warranty and exclusions are stated for the proposed configuration.
Related Fuel-Handling and Service Equipment
Intelligent Grab Overhead Crane
Review automated bulk pickup, transfer and discharge functions.
Grab-and-Hook Overhead Crane
Compare mixed bulk handling and equipment-lifting arrangements.
Single-Girder Grab Crane
Explore a separate option for suitable auxiliary bulk duties.
Grab-and-Hook Gantry Crane
Review ground-supported handling for suitable yard applications.
Workshop Overhead Crane
Select equipment-maintenance lifting independently from fuel handling.
New Electric Hoist
Review compact hoisting equipment for separately rated service tasks.
Request a Biomass Crane Proposal
Get a crane and grab package designed around your fuel, storage building and boiler demand. Send your layout to Henan Mine Crane for an engineered arrangement and itemized quotation.
Email: info@hnksglobal.com